The article rightly points out that “..telling adolescents that youth vaping is an “epidemic” (i.e., all your friends are doing it) — but that it is a risky habit meant only for adults (i.e., it’s cool) — hasn’t worked.” After years of steady decline in the numbers of teen vaping, rates have spiked again in 2018 and 2019, in line with the increase in awareness and numerous teen vaping campaigns.
“As I argue in a new study, youth experimentation with vaping increased not in spite of anti-vaping messaging but because of it. If we want to reduce teen interest in vaping, we shouldn’t give anti-vaping campaigns more money; we should end them,” adds the author.
She adds that this inclination to rebel against authority is called “reactance” in psychology, and there are many examples of this in US history, such as D.A.R.E., an 1980s-era anti-drug campaign. Previous research has indicated not only did this campaign not discourage teens from drinking and/or using drugs, but it made them more likely to engage in these behaviours.
Personality factors play a major role in substance use
In fact, data released by the CDC last December, had shown that all the flavour bans being set in place across the US, may be doing little to decrease teen vaping rates. “Among students who reported ever having tried e-cigarettes, the three most common reasons for use were “I was curious about them” (55.3%), “friend or family member used them” (30.8%), and “they are available in flavors, such as mint, candy, fruit, or chocolate” (22.4%).
Among students who never used e-cigarettes, 39.1% were curious about using e-cigarettes and 37.0% were curious about smoking cigarettes,” reported the CDC website, highlighting that curiosity remains the main instigator of teen vaping.
The “cool” factor
Similarly, a recent study from the University of Michigan, has shown that as was the case with cigarette smoking in the past, the main motivator behind teen vaping is the “cool” factor derived from using e-cigarettes. The researchers of this study found that nearly two-thirds of the participants said that the social aspects of vaping, or rather “looking cool”, is what drives them to use Juul and other electronic devices. Less than 5% of the participants mentioned the availability of fruity flavours as a motivator for them to start vaping.
Massachusetts Withholds Information About the Cause of EVALI From the Public
Teens vape to rebel. By creating these programs that tell them not to vape, that idea is only being reinforced. It’s only making the problem worse. The anti-drug smoking and anti-drug commercials on TV were always pretty cringe inducing. It’s like once people become adults they completely forget what it was like in high school.